Medical Assistant / Pennsylvania
2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania Medical Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Official regulator records behind the requirements, fees, and renewal cycle for this license.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Performs clinical and administrative tasks in medical offices.

What the Pennsylvania data shows for Medical Assistants

To practice as a medical assistant in Pennsylvania, the state licensing board requires 1,000 documented education or training hours, a passing score on a state-approved exam. A criminal history background check is also part of the application. The regulation sits under Pennsylvania's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

Budget $100 to get started on a 2-year cycle. There's no continuing-education mandate tied to this profession in Pennsylvania, which keeps the long-run cost of staying licensed lighter than in CE-heavy states.

There's no published reciprocity list here - Pennsylvania reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Medical Assistant · Pennsylvania

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
1,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Pennsylvania

Education / Training Hours
Certificate/Degree
1,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Medical Assistant All Pennsylvania licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania? ▼
Pennsylvania requires 1000 education/training hours, passing an exam, and an initial fee of $100. A criminal background check is also required.
How do I get certified as a Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania? ▼
To become a licensed medical assistant in Pennsylvania, you must meet the state's requirements including 1000 hours of education. You must also pass the required examination. Contact the Pennsylvania licensing board to verify current requirements.
Can I transfer my Medical Assistant license to Pennsylvania from another state? ▼
Out-of-state medical assistant credentials get a case-by-case review in Pennsylvania rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the Pennsylvania licensing board.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Medical Assistant licensing? ▼
Yes, Pennsylvania requires a criminal background check as part of the medical assistant licensing process. Disqualifying offenses and review criteria are determined by the state licensing board.

Related Guides

What to do with this medical assistant license

Medical Assistant in Pennsylvania is one requirement row in a medical assistant-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Pennsylvania licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.